Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A press conference is being organised by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation to unveil the results of research carried out by Dr. Keith Hurst, an international expert on comparative medical staffing levels. The results of his research are stark and frightening. They suggest patient safety is being compromised and give the lie to the notion that front-line services are being protected. One finding is that comparative staffing levels are significantly lower than in the United Kingdom. For example, there are six fewer staff in 25-bed surgical wards here and 3.5 fewer staff in medical wards, 13.5 fewer staff in AAUs and 3.25 fewer staff in wards providing elderly care. I do not know if the Tánaiste is aware that last week a report was published by the relevant authority in the United Kingdom which indicated that in 25% of units in the United Kingdom, which are significantly better staffed than ours, nurse staffing ratios were below minimum safety standards, which resulted in hundreds of premature mortalities. The Tánaiste will be aware that the Government proposes to reduce staffing levels in the health service by 3,700 during the next 12 months and by 3,700 the following year. Taking all of this into account, what assurance can he give to the people that the Government is maintaining a safe health service for those forced to use it?

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